Pauldrons on My Shoulders Make Me Happy

As a knight, if you want to brush your shoulder off like a boss, you’d have to do so through a layer of metal. The pieces of armor covering a knight’s shoulders were called “pauldrons.”

The King Pauldrons

Now stop. Before I say more, here’s a thought. Have you ever wondered what would be playing on a medieval radio station if one ever existed? Beyond the liturgical chants and twanging lutes, what would the general populace have wanted to tune into as they kicked back at the end of the day with a 7th century beer?

Would there be a doo-wop band called “Clangy and the Armorettes”? How about a punk act named “Throw the Gauntlet”? An indie duo called “Gregor Goes Chanting”? With so many living the rustic life, this author suspects the Middle Agers would have greatly appreciated folk music. With that in mind, here’s a rendition of the John Denver classic “Sunshine on My Shoulders,” tweaked to tell you just a little bit more about medieval pauldrons…